First image
Second image
Interlude
Third image
Fourth image
Interlude
Fifth image

• Year of composition: 1941
• Work category: Opera
• Text author: Natanael Berg. German translation by Fritz Tutenberg (1902-1967)
  
• First performed: 10 January 1942 at the Kungliga Teatern [Royal Theatre/Opera], Stockholm
  Performers: Brita Hertzberg (Birgitta), Einar Beyron (Riddar Karl, Birgittas son [Knight Karl, Birgitta’s son]), Sven-Erik Jacobsson (Riddar Birger, Birgittas son [Knight Birger, Birgitta’s son]), Irma Björck (Katarina, Birgittas dotter [Birgitta’s daughter]), Sven Herdenberg (Riddar Eghard, Katarinas make [Knight Eghard, Katarina’s husband]), Gösta Lindberg (Petrus, Birgittas biktfader [Birgitta’s Confessor]), Sven d'Ailly (Per Skräddare [Tailor Pe(te)r]), Erik Sundquist (Biskop Alfons [Bishop Alfons]), Sigvard Berg (1:ste kavaljeren [1st Courtier]), Sture Ingebretzen (2:dre kavaljeren [2nd Courtier]), Ryno Wallin (3:dje kavaljeren [3rd Courtier]), Benna Lemon-Brundin (Giovanna, drottning av Neapel [Queen of Naples]), Inge-Gerd Norlin (Fiametta), Arne Ohlson (Lorenzo), Carl-Axel Hallgren (Mattello), Nils Bäckström (Nola), Evy Tibell (En Birgittasyster [A Bridgettine sister]), Maud Kallenberg (En fattig flicka [A Poor girl]), Leon Björker (Guds röst [The Voice of God]), Inez Wassner (Guds Moders röst [The Voice of the Mother of God]). Conductor: Nils Grevillius
• Duration: Approx. 120-180 min
• Detailed duration: 2 hours 40 minutes (according to the theatre poster from the premiere; probably including interval/-s)

Instrumentation

3*.3*.3*.3*. / 4.2.3.1 / timp, 1 perc, hp, org / str
picc, cor angl, bass clar, dbn

Solo voices/choir

Solo voices: 4 sopranos (Birgitta, Katarina, etc.), 3 mezzo-sopranos (Queen Giovanna, etc.), 5 tenors (Karl, Petrus, etc.), 5 baritones (Eghard, etc.), 3 basses (Birger, etc.)
Female choir, S.S.A.
Mixed choir, S.S.A.A.T.T.B.B.
Unison male choir

Examples of printed editions

Reproduction of piano vocal score in handwriting available from the online catalogue, Musik- och teaterbiblioteket. Location mark: 2008/1219

The aria 'Så sannades Birgittas budskap' for alto/mezzo-soprano and piano is also included in 'Svenska operaarior 1874-2009' [Swedish opera arias 1874-2009], Edition Suecia, Stockholm 2012. Location mark at Musik- och teaterbiblioteket: 2013/68 (online catalogue)

Location for score and part material

Score available at Stim/Svensk musik
Score and orchestral parts available at the Kungliga Operan [Royal Opera], Stockholm

• Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
• Possible call no. and autograph comment: Piano-vocal score in autograph can be found in the Natanael Berg deposition, Z/Sv.

Literature

Ralf, Klas: Kungliga teatern. Repertoar 1773-1973 [The Royal Theatre/Opera. Repertoire 1773-1973; in Swedish, only]. Stockholm (1974)

Description of work

Första bilden [First image]
En bönkammare [A small room of prayer]
Damkör, Guds röst, Birgitta, Guds moder, blandad kör [Female choir, The Voice of God, Birgitta, The Mother of God, Mixed choir]

Andra bilden [Second image]
Hall i Eggertnäs gård [A hall in the Eggertnäs mansion ]
Katarina, Eghard, Karl, Birgitta, Petrus

Mellanspel [Interlude]

Tredje bilden [Third image]
Hallen i Birgittahuset i Rom [The Hall in the House of Saint Bridget]
Damkör, en syster, en flicka, Birgitta, Petrus, Per Skräddare, Karl, Katarina, manskör, blandad kör, 3 kavaljerer, biskop Alfons [Female choir, A Bridgettine sister, Birgitta, Petrus, Tailor Per, Karl, Katarina, Male choir, Mixed choir, 3 Courtiers, Bishop Alfons]

Fjärde bilden [Fourth image]
Trädgård i drottning Giovannas palats, Neapel. Unga damer dansar [A garden in Queen Giovanna’s palace, Naples. Young women are dancing].
Orkesterintroduktion [Orchestral introduction]
Damkör [Female choir], Giovanna, Lorenzo, Matello, Fiametta, Greve Nola [Count Nola], Birgitta, Katarina, Karl

Mellanspel [Interlude]

Femte bilden [Fifth image]
Vid Birgittas sarkofag i det inre av en katedral [At Birgitta’s sarcophagus, in the interior of a cathedral ]
Katarina, blandad kör [Mixed choir]

Links

Score examples from the first, third, fourth and fifth image available at Stim/Svensk musik

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Libretto/text